Face-lifted Lexus CT200h revealed

This is the face-lifted Lexus CT200h, which brings the styling of the 2014 car in line with the rest of the company’s models.

The most obvious change to the exterior is the addition of Lexus’s trademark ‘spindle grille’. The front and rear bumpers have also been revised, adding sharper creases and more contours. A new alloy wheel design completes the styling updates.

Inside, there are a few tweaks. The 2014 model will be available with a bamboo finish on the dashboard, and the material will even appear in the speakers.

There won’t be any major technical changes though, so it will have the same 1.8-litre petrol engine and electric motor combination that powers the current model. However, What Car? understands that the hybrid system software has been updated, which could mean mild improvements to fuel economy and emissions.

Our biggest criticism of the current CT200h is the harsh ride, but Lexus has told us that revised suspension will be fitted on the 2014 model, with the aim of offering a better driving experience on UK roads.

The 2014 Lexus CT200h will go on sale in early 2014, and we’d expect to see a modest price increase across the range.

Full details will be revealed at the new CT200h’s debut at the Guangzhou motor show in China on 21 November.